Turkey striving to become polar power: Analysts

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – Over the years, Turkish scientists have undertaken numerous studies and expeditions to both Antarctica and the Arctic in a bid to make the country a polar power.

“Turkey carries out more effective projects to undertake polar researches every year with its increasing power both in the region and around the globe,” Burcu Ozsoy, head of the first Turkish Polar Research Center (PolRec) at Istanbul Technical University, told Anadolu Agency.

Citing Turkey's various expeditions, she said it is now “inevitable” that Turkey will be a polar power.

“In 2019, the Turkish Arctic Scientific Expedition established its first polar base in Antarctica. In its Antarctic expeditions, Turkey hosts several countries as a guest researcher and provides logistics and scientific support to foreign countries in both polar regions if necessary,” said Ozsoy.

Before Turkey established its temporary research base on Horseshoe Island in Antarctica in 2019, its scientific team was supported by Ukraine’s Vernadsky station.

“The feasibility studies regarding establishing a permanent base in Antarctica are in the final stages. If everything goes as planned, our goal is to operate the science base in the 100th year of our republic,” Ozsoy added. Turkey was declared a republic in October 1923.

“Annual scientific expeditions and increasing projects on poles have strengthened Turkey's polar policy,” said Ersan Basar, a marine scientist from Trabzon’s Karadeniz Technical University.

Since 2016, Turkey has accelerated its scientific investigations in the pole. It is believed that expeditions and researches will help the country’s scientific achievements.

In April 2016, the first-ever Turkish team of researchers that included-- 14 medics, botanists, geologists, and oceanographers from seven universities -- traveled to Antarctica to study the impact of climate change.

-Turkish team studied climate change

Ozsoy, who is also the director of TUBITAK Polar Research Institute, said the Turkish team carried out projects on poles, especially to figure out the climate change and its effects on the environment.

“While carrying out our studies in the Arctic, the team discovered a new type of bacteria. The team conducted its projects in line with an environmental conscience,” Ozsoy said.

Eight scientists, who were part of the first Arctic Scientific Expedition worked on 16 projects, achieving the goal while leaving minimum footprints.

The team also did not leave any waste in the area. “They instead collected the waste they founded in their vicinity,” she added.

Ozsoy, who led Turkey's three Antarctic expeditions, said that Turkey has carried out more activities in Antarctica over the past few years than many other countries who were active in the region for over a century.

Basar said that Turkey’s expeditions were aimed at adding to the scientific findings to help humanity.

“We have been observing the glaciers on Horseshoe Island for over four years. We regret to say that these glaciers were subject to a great melting, especially in 2020,” Basar stressed, adding that the results of global warming are seen at the poles.

Ozsoy said the polar regions are information houses about the world’s history like an almanac.

Referring to the natural resources on poles, Ozsoy said the Arctic has nearly one-third of the world’s hydrocarbon reserves. The melting of Arctic glaciers has created a new route for sea transportation.

“Since the existing sources are decreasing, we understand the importance of polar regions. Antarctica also has rich potential in copper and iron,“ she said.

-Potential for krill harvesting

Basar, leader of the 2020 Antarctic Science Expedition in 2020, said that Antarctica has a huge potential for krill harvesting.

Krill, the small crustacean, is a rich source of protein and omega-three fatty acids which are used as dietary supplements or oil capsules and for livestock and pet food.

“It is known that the Turkish fishing fleet carries out hunting activities in many parts of the world. Krill harvesting would be an important source of income for Turkey,” Basar stressed.

As the Arctic is generating interest around the world due to promising commercial opportunities, Basar said some Turkish firms have carried out significant projects related to the construction and gas industry in the countries bordering the Arctic.

-Turkey should upgrade its status

“Turkey should upgrade its observer status in Antarctica to become one of the decision-maker countries. Turkey will reach its goal by increasing its scientific power in Antarctica,” Basar said.

In Antarctica, where science is a priority, Turkey is more likely to become a polar power, but there is still a lot to do,” he said.

Currently holding observer status, Turkey acceded to the Antarctic Treaty in 1996. The treaty was signed in Washington by 12 countries in December 1959.

As many as 54 countries have now entered into the treaty. But only 29 of them have the consultative status, which enables them to participate in decision-making about Antarctica.

In 2015, Turkey had applied to become an observer to the Arctic Council, which was established in 1996 to promote cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the eight Arctic states, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the US.